Tension gripped devotees in the Golden Temple after some people raised pro-Khalistan slogans in the complex on the 35th anniversary of Operation Bluestar.

Amritsar has turned into a virtual fortress ahead of the 35th anniversary of Operation Bluestar on Thursday. (Photo:ANI)

Pro-Khalistan slogans were raised in the premises of the Golden Temple complex on the 35th anniversary of Operation Bluestar, on Thursday.

During a programme by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), an altercation broke out between the SGPC task force and some Sikh men wearing slain militant leader t-shirts with Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale's photos and raising 'Khalistan Zindabad' slogans.

The SGPC has deployed its task force within the Golden Temple complex to avert any untoward incident. It is also checking the antecedents of devotees who have come to the Golden Temple for a night stay as part of its measures to keep a check on troublemakers.

Meanwhile, Amritsar has turned into a virtual fortress ahead of the 35th anniversary of Operation Blue Star on June 6, with more than 3,000 security personnel deployed and police maintaining a hawk-eyed vigil in sensitive areas.

The Army had carried out Operation Blue Star in June 1984 to flush out militants hiding in the Golden Temple complex here.

Amid apprehensions that Sikh hardliners might create trouble in the Golden Temple complex, more than 3,000 security personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order, police officials said on Wednesday.

Flag marches are also being conducted in several areas and surveillance of vulnerable areas is being carried out through CCTV cameras, they said.

The officials said policemen have been deployed at all the entry and exit points of the city, including the airport, the railway station, and the city bypass.

Vehicles coming into the city from outside are being checked to prevent the entry of any miscreants, they added.

Jathedar of Akal Takht (highest temporal seat of Sikhs), Giani Harpreet Singh, and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee president, Gobind Singh Longowal, had on Wednesday appealed to the Sikh community to maintain peace while observing the anniversary of Operation Blue Star.

Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Shiv Dular Singh said a ban has been imposed on carrying any arms, including sharp-edged weapons, for the next five days in Amritsar.

Security personnel have been maintaining strict vigil after two motorcycle-borne dumped a bag containing two hand grenades and fled when they were asked to stop at a check post near an Indo-Pak border village here on Monday.